Arizona Man Who Sold Ammo To Stephen Paddock Is Charged – Closer To The Truth?

IWB ^ | Ruby Henley

[MileHi]

I know these bullets are specialized and a far cry from normal ammunition.

So you don't know much.

[OldMissileer]

You can buy as much SS109 or M855 steel penetrator that you want.

Those rounds are expressly exempt from the Armor Piercing category.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yes, I know, but from what I have read, the rifles he used were .223/5.56 NATO.

[Who is John Galt?]

One definition of "armor piercing" ammunition can be found in 18 U.S.C §921(a)(17)(B):

"(B) The term “armor piercing ammunition” means—
(i) a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium; or
(ii) a full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile."

It's a legal definition, not necessarily a functional or common sense definition. You'll note the references to "use in a handgun", and "constructed entirely" of steel, brass, etc. - large caliber 'solids' (example: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/197389/norma-solid-ammunition-375-h-and-h-magnum-300-grain-solid-box-of-10 ) intended for dangerous game may be constructed entirely of brass, but are not considered armor piercing ammo, because they're not intended for use in a handgun.

I'm not sure if "armor piercing" rifle ammunition is currently prohibited in any significant way; please provide details if you have them. The 'green tip' 5.56 ammo may not qualify as "armor piercing" because it is not constructed entirely of any of the listed substances (the steel penetrator sits on top of a lead core).

There are licensing requirements for certain commercial ammunition manufacturing activities; maybe the gentleman ran afoul of one or more of those...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

There is no “body armor” short of a steel plate that will stop a 7.62x51mm FMJ round, for instance, about as common a cartridge as you’re going to find next to 30-06 which is slightly more powerful and available in FMJ as well.

[Who is John Galt?]

I remember some discussions on one of the internet ballistics sites, years ago: a company was attempting to market a new 5.56 round to the US military. IIRC, they claimed their 'proprietary' projectile was able to penetrate armor, but still fragment inside human tissue. Tests seemed to validate their claims, but the company was refusing to release any specifics on the propellant or projectile until they had a contract signed. The last I heard, the 'super-secret proprietary' AP projectile turned out to be just a standard 5.56 FMJ bullet, driven to extreme velocities by pressures approaching 'proof load' levels. Needless to say, no government contract was signed.

So, any reasonably tough projectile (in any caliber?) might become 'armor piercing', if you can get it moving fast enough...

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Considering it was tracer ammo and the news touted it as Armor Piercing is just another example of how the MSM is just a tool of the left.

[MileHi]

Thanks